Turkey has a longstanding Baha’i Faith community which today numbers roughly 10,000. The Baha’i Faith was founded in 19th century Iran by Mirza Hosayn-Ali Nuri Baha’ullah (d. 1892) and developed from Babism, an Iranian messianic movement, and Shi’a Shaikhism. Baha’is acknowledge numerous prophets, including Muhammad, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, and Baha’ullah. The Baha’i Faith is monotheistic and universalist, recognizing the truth claims of other religious traditions. Followers believe in progressive revelation, such that each age has its prophet and revelations specific to that time. Both Sunni and Shi’i Muslims consider Baha’is to be heretical, often leading to tense relations with other Muslims in Muslim-majority nations. It is an international faith, with small communities in most countries.
The Turkish Baha’i Faith community has its roots among Iranian Baha’is who settled in Istanbul as traders, refugees, and pilgrims, founded a local spiritual assembly, and then gradually expanded into other areas. A second community emerged closer to the Iraq border and was composed of Iraqi Baha’is. The Baha’ullah spent most of his life within the Ottoman Empire, including periods of exile in Istanbul and Edirne. Several of the early Young Turks were interested in the Baha’i Faith as a result of political changes taking place among the early Baha’i community, and some were drawn to Baha’i pacifism and the creation of a liberal and progressive Islam.
Following the creation of the Republic of Turkey, Baha’is were arrested and charged with gathering in illegal secret societies. Despite government pressure, the Baha’i community grew throughout the midcentury and communities have sprung up in areas where the Baha’ullah visited or stayed while exiled in Turkey. The Baha’i Faith is officially recognized by the Turkish government and has appeared on Turkish identity cards since 1966. However, like other religious minorities, members report harassment and discrimination, and difficulties in providing religious education to their children.
Sources:
Necati Alkan, “’The Eternal Enemy of Islam’: Abdullah Cevdet and the Baha’i Religion,” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Vol. 68, No. 1 (2005), pp. 1-20.
John Walbridge, Essays and Notes on Babi and Baha’i History, H-Bahai Digital Library at Michigan State University (2002), accessed November 7, 2013.